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Jump from 5850 to 7950...but what 7950?

Rudra

Rudra

Rudra

Associate
Joined
22 Sep 2012
Posts
23
Location
Glasgow
Hi.

I decide to change my "old" MSI TwinFrozr II 5850 to 7950 (or maybe 7970)

My final list is:
MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC V2 3072MB -Core: 830MHz
Sapphire HD 7950 Vapor-X OC 3072MB - Core: 850MHz (950MHz in BOOST)
HIS HD 7950 IceQ BOOST 3072MB - Core: 925MHz

All have - Memory Clock: 5000MHz

Price is between £260-£270.

I want to ask - do is a big difference in speed in thats cards if they have different core clocks or this is just a marketing catch :) ? I don't want to OC.

and second question - I can add £30-40 and buy VTX3D HD 7970 X-Edition for VTX3D HD 7970 X-Edition - Core: 1050MHz. But do this graphic card is worth buying compare to three from list above?

Or just wait few mc for 8000 family?

Spec of my system:
GIGABYTE 990XA-UD3
FX 8120 - @4.4
Corsair Vengeance 12GB
PSu Enermax Modu82+ 525W (I know is to weak for 7950 or 7970) I also buying new PSU but this question is not here :)

Sorry for my language :) yes, is not hard to guess - English is not my native language.

Rudra
 
Well, the faster core clock will have an impact on performance with the higher clocked cards performing better. However all of those cards should be able to hit 1000 MHz without altering the voltage, if you overclock. May I ask why you don't want to overclock? Overclocking a graphics card is literally just a case of spending 5 seconds moving some sliders in afterburner, and then playing a few games to test stability. If you don't change the voltage, there is really no risk at all- and by all means you can change the voltage safely (as long as it isn't above 1.2v or so).

Also, your PSU is enough for either a 7950 or 7970, no need to change it- especially as it is a very good brand.
 
The key thing you said is that you aren't going to overclock - the 7950's value for money comes from overclocking. I understand that pushing PC components to the utter maximum is everybody's idea of fun but by moving a couple of slider bars you will receive tangible performance increases at no extra cost :).

It's quite easy and well worth doing.

Personally, I would go for the 7950 Twin Frozr as I like MSI as a brand and I also like the cooler on that card.
 
I'll also add, that if OP is worried about voiding warranties etc. using software overclocking like afterburner will be undetectable to the manufacturer in the event of RMAing, so when they ask you if it's been overclocked, you just innocently say 'What is this overclocking you speak of?'
Also, MSI actually officially warrant overclocking using afterburner (provided you don't disable the voltage restrictions and increase voltage beyond official afterburner limits). So with the 7950 TF3 (which is what I have), there is literally no risk overclocking it- I'm running mine at 1000/1400 on stock voltage, which is a significant improvement in performance over stock levels for 5 seconds work. Free performance gain :)

Oh, and since this is OverclocksUK, it is against forum rules not to overclock :p
 
Like always I get quick and solid help from this forum :)

Why I dont want to OC - maybe because I never need that in graphic cards. CPU is other case:)
But graphic...after this three answers I start thinking about MSI Afterburner on my system and OC 5850 and sit and wait for 8000 family :)

Nuclear Fusion - I know my PSU is good - I just put it in my wife pc and I buy something for "future"

Rusty0611 - I also think about MSI or Gigabyte (I have big respect to mobo from them and graphic cards) But I see in past few days 7950 is start diapering from online shops.

Nuclear Fusion - ok, You convince me I instal MSI AB :) we see what I can get from 5850 :)
 
Rudra said:
Like always I get quick and solid help from this forum :)

Why I dont want to OC - maybe because I never need that in graphic cards. CPU is other case:)
But graphic...after this three answers I start thinking about MSI Afterburner on my system and OC 5850 and sit and wait for 8000 family :)

Nuclear Fusion - I know my PSU is good - I just put it in my wife pc and I buy something for "future"

Rusty0611 - I also think about MSI or Gigabyte (I have big respect to mobo from them and graphic cards) But I see in past few days 7950 is start diapering from online shops.

Nuclear Fusion - ok, You convince me I instal MSI AB :) we see what I can get from 5850 :)
Click to expand...

Good choice, it is very simple to use and is a great way to get free extra performance for very little work. If you are using your old PSU for your wife's computer then fair enough, but don't feel like it is necessary to upgrade it since it has more than enough power for a single 7950 setup. I believe it was Rusty (guy up there ^ :p) who showed his 680 SLI setup drawing 450W from the wall at max load- and remember that since PSU's aren't 100% efficient, that meant the components were drawing even less than this.
 
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I would say if you are not going to overclock the vtx x-edition 7970 would be your best bet. But why are you asking advice on overclockers .co.uk? :p
 
First I must say - nice city - Ipswich ;) -
Why I ask - I always buy on OC shop from .. ho ho... or before :) and I always get help from ppl here, on this forum. This is a reason.
 
Save up and get a 7970! The VTX3D is a great price, but imho the cooler it comes with is better than stock, but pretty bad. You don't be able to overclock far with it, but the card is blindingly fast at it's stock anyway. The stock cooler on the VTX3D isn't too loud, with good airflow in my case in game it was at about 68c full load.

It's not a slow card by any means, and after purchasing aftermarket cooler (Accelero 7970) I am now sitting at 1300/1600 at 1250mV which is a pretty nice overclock for a £300 7970!
 
I can't recall the review, but iirc, the Sapphire coolers were deemed to be one of the quietest available. So, if OcUK handles the rma for these, then they would possibly be something I would consider. I guess they've kind of grown on me a little. :)
 
The Accelero is the quietest air cooler I've heard tbh, even at 100% there is no whine at all. 90% is what I would consider quiet, but I have no warranty now. :p

The Twin Frozr wasn't quiet, VTX3D wasn't quiet, I think the windforce x3 is probably the quietest of them all. The Accelero has made my card so long though, would have to cut out my bottom hdd cage if I wanted to xfire.
 
Ok. After week of reading and searching in net about 7950.
I make decision :)

MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC V2

I only hope price will not change till tomorrow in OC shop:)

Thank You all for help and advice.
 
You may not want to overclock, but do yourself a favour and at least max it out in Catalyst control centre. It's perfectly safe :)

Besides, the 7950's overclocking ability is part of what makes it the bang for buck bargain that it is right now.
 
For moment I think about waiting to 8000 family but...2013 is far far away:) after I want to buy Gigabyte 7970 for 350 but is 100 more. For 100 I can buy good PSU or loots of beer to celebrate new graphic card:)
 
Different coolers and speeds out the box. They will both overclock further. The amount is luck dependant rather than anything else.
 
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